There are several genres of TV/streaming series that I enjoy watching. Crime-solving shows are one of them. Comedies are another (although I tend to lean towards rom coms than straight-out comedies). I think that Only Murders in the Building is the first show that I have seen that combines both genres – and it does it so well! I started off watching the pilot of season 1 on Disney+ and I was hooked! I ended up finishing seasons 1 and 2 in one weekend! I have heard of the show before and I know people who have raved about it in the past, but I had refused to watch it because I was worried that I would get disappointed after all the hype. Luckily for me, it was as good as people said it would be.
The show is about three true crime podcast fans who live in the same building. When a murder happens in the Arcadia, the building they all live in, they decide to investigate, and they start a podcast to reveal everything that they have uncovered. The series stars Steve Martin, Selena Gomez, and Martin Short. It’s a combination of actors who I never would have imagined together until this show came out. You’d think that they could not be any more different and that there wouldn’t be any chemistry, but this trio is what makes the show entertaining. They all have something different to offer and they bring something to the group that makes their team funny and enjoyable to watch. I never liked Martin Short’s brand of comedy, but I found him likable in this show. I guess I just needed the right material to see him in to like him.
Only Murders in the Building has 10 episodes per season, with each episode lasting less than an hour. At first, I thought that I would not like the show. I thought that the time frame might not leave much to come up with a good story, but they made it work. I was hooked on every scene and every episode from season 1 episode 1 to season 2 episode 10. I think the limited time frame also helped with the pacing of the show. There was not a dull moment in the episodes.
Not only did the show give a good crime story that leaves the viewer guessing, but they also combined this with a great group of supporting characters that make the lives of the three main characters more interesting. I love that there are also guest actors who are celebrities that play themselves in the show (season 1 had Sting and season 2 had Amy Schumer). I thought that was amusing to watch. I read somewhere that Meryl Streep would be in season 3. I can’t help but wonder if she is playing herself too. I’m also excited for season 3 because the season 2 finale already teased that the murder of an actor (played by Paul Rudd) will be the crime to be solved. I’m looking forward to that. Plus, I saw a photo of Ashley Park (who I love on Emily In Paris) with the rest of the cast so I am hoping that she has a good role in season 3.
Another element that I enjoyed in the show was that the three leads were once fans of one true crime podcast, which was hosted by a character played by Tina Fey. They end up becoming competition for that podcast as the show goes on, although it is of course the original podcast that is being professionally produced compared to that of Selena and company, who are podcasting from home. I also thought it was interesting that while the group was trying to solve a crime in season 1 out of curiosity, in season 2 they had to solve it because they were the main suspects of the murder. It makes me wonder how they will try to spin the new murder for season 3.
Only Murders in the Building has been nominated for awards and critics have been praising the show since it started. I just hope that the writer’s strike happening in the US won’t affect the future (and the quality) of this show because it has suddenly become one of my favorites.
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